LD6 Dems

Can we learn anything from Ft. Hood tragedy? (Contributor Editorial)

Perhaps the Ft. Hood tragedy and the resulting focus on the military will help cause President Obama to rethink his plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.  Something has to change for our military men and women and their families!
 
There was a lot of media discussion yesterday about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related battle stresses with speculation on how they may have affected the suspected shooter. (It has been reported that, as an Army psychiatrist, Major Hasan counseled troubled troops.) It was repeatedly suggested that the horrors he had heard from his patients may have contributed to his taking such terrible action since the savagery of their stories could have eventually caused him to "snap" as his own deployment date neared.  It is plausible since it is known that PTSD affects not only troops subjected to battle conditions, but their families as well. Perhaps support staff  is impacted as well, since it was brought out yesterday that fewer people are available to provide needed services in our overburdened military.  
 
Even if PTSD didn't play a role in what happened yesterday, its existence is a grim reality that is possibly still being downplayed by a military leadership needing a steady supply of recruits to send to battle.  We hear that our armed forces are stretched to the breaking point with 3, 4 or more rotations back to war zones for troops who may not be psychologically or physically ready. What national nightmare are we creating by doing this? 

Incidents of atrocities committed by returning military, even against loved ones, are increasing. According to Army statistics, the Army suicide rate in 2008 surpassed that for civilians for the first time since the Vietnam War and is expected to increase. 

VA studies show that about one-third of our adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services and that nearly half of them suffer from mental illness plus close to 75% have substance abuse problems. Although there are fewer  homeless  women veterans, their numbers are increasing. The Natl. Coalition of Homeless Veterans reports that, as of 20006, in Arizona alone, there were nearly 4,000 homeless veterans and only 199 funded beds available.  Nationally, there were about 26 homeless veterans for each available bed. 

And this information doesn't even mention the ancillary services that are needed by our veterans and/or their families.  Or take into consideration the thousands killed or the tens of thousands injured because of  Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Or talk about the staggering financial burden to our country . . . and to all of us.

Perhaps yesterday's atrocity will force us to examine more closely the often overlooked "hidden" costs of war and cause us to question why we keep sending yet another generation of men and, now, women into battle. What is this accomplishing?  Not much good and a whole lot of bad, as far as I can see. Do we not learn from the past, such as Vietnam? 
 
Let's hope that something beneficial will come from the Ft. Hood tragedy so that those unfortunate victims did not lose their lives in vain. A start would be to stop sending more men and women to Afghanistan and to continue the troop withdrawal in Iraq!   

Nancy

Glenn Greenwald on Arar v. Ashcroft: "A court decision that reflects what type of country the U.S. is"

Nancy W recommends:  Glenn Greenwald's op ed published today in Salon, A court decision that reflects what type of country the U.S. is, which discusses Arar v. Ashcroft. 

Excerpt:

It's not often that an appellate court decision reflects so vividly what a country has become, but such is the case with yesterday's ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Arar v. Ashcroft (.pdf).  Maher Arar is both a Canadian and Syrian citizen of Syrian descent.  A telecommunications engineer and graduate of Montreal's McGill University, he has lived in Canada since he's 17 years old.  In 2002, he was returning home to Canada from vacation when, on a stopover at JFK Airport, he was (a) detained by U.S. officials, (b) accused of being a Terrorist, (c) held for two weeks incommunicado and without access to counsel while he was abusively interrogated, and then (d) was "rendered" -- despite his pleas that he would be tortured -- to Syria, to be interrogated and tortured.  He remained in Syria for the next 10 months under the most brutal and inhumane conditions imaginable, where he was repeatedly tortured.  Everyone acknowledges that Arar was never involved with Terrorism and was guilty of nothing.  ...

***

Yesterday, the Second Circuit -- by a vote of 7-4 -- ...held that even if the government violated Arar's Constitutional rights as well as statutes banning participation in torture, he still has no right to sue for what was done to him.  Why?  Because "providing a damages remedy against senior officials who implement an extraordinary rendition policy would enmesh the courts ineluctably in an assessment of the validity of the rationale of that policy and its implementation in this particular case, matters that directly affect significant diplomatic and national security concerns" (p. 39).  In other words, government officials are free to do anything they want in the national security context -- even violate the law and purposely cause someone to be tortured -- and courts should honor and defer to their actions by refusing to scrutinize them. 

Read the entire article here.

LD6 Chair Goes to Washington

Our own Bill Engler went to DC last week to visit with our representatives about health care.  Here is his report.

 * * *

Last week I went to Washington, DC to learn more about health care reform and how changes would impact on the seniors of our country.  I, along with about 50 other retirees, went to Capitol Hill to see our representatives. I faxed  letters to Senators McCain and Kyl and also to Representative Shadegg requesting a meeting over a week in advance requesting a meeting to discuss the subject. No office even acknowledged my request so I just showed up on their doorsteps. Each office apologized and indicated they did not see my letter. I was able to see an aide on the staff of Rep. Shadegg and Senator McCain. No one was available to meet with me from the staff of Senator Kyl. I was not able to change anyone’s position but dropped off material explaining my position.

A group of about 30 of us then went to Senator Reid’s office to try to convince him to hang tough on the issues rather than caving in down the road. He was not there but we made our position known to his staff. All in all it was a great experience. I gained a lot of knowledge on the whole health care debate and came away more than ever with the belief that we need to retire the 3 representatives mentioned above.

Bill Engler

Jack Harper Mock's Educators

Yeah, we wouldn't want citizens showing up at the Arizona Legislature actually caring about those education cuts.  Too bad Mr. Harper doesn't see how embarrasing (to himself) his remarks were and how insulting.

Shepard Smith Says His Email "Becoming More and More Frightening"

So, we most recently have Dr. Tiller murdered in church by a right-wing anti-abortion radical.  Now, a security guard is killed today in the Washington Holocaust Museum by a right-wing white supremacist.  I seem to recall that it wasn't very long ago here in Arizona, that a speed-camera employee was shot by, I'm guessing here, someone with rage issues and a fear of government. 

There seems to be a lot of "amped up" rage brewing out there.  And, it's kept alive by misinformation and the right-wing blogs and talk-show radio hosts.  Let's don't even get started about the "birthers," who continue to claim that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. despite a boat-load of factual evidence to the contrary.  Yes, there was a 2008 presidential candidate who was not born in the U.S. -- but it was John McCain.  But, then this really has nothing to do with facts.

Looks like the Department of Homeland Security report, warning us about potentially violent right-wing radicals, was right (good thing Janet ignored those calls for her resignation).  Has everyone forgotten about Timothy McVey and Oklahoma City?  Terrorism and hate crimes are not limited to any particular ethnic background or religious affiliation and, thanks to media shills like Rush Limbaugh, rage and lack of facts are whipped up, sending the crazies off into violent action.

Andrei Cherny & Ann Wallack to Speak at this Thursday's LD6 Meeting

Andrei Cherney, who is running for AZ State Treasurer in 2010, will be the guest speaker at our LD 6 Meeting this Thursday, May 22 at 7:00.

Ann Wallack, Chair of our Maricopa County Democratic Party, will also speak at the meeting.

Join us!

When: Thursday, May 22, 2009, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
Where: Mountain Sky Middle School Library, 16225 N 7th Ave, Phoenix AZ

AFL-CIO Legislative Alert, May 4, 2009

Welcome to the weekly legislative update brought to you from the Arizona AFL-CIO.  Your participation strengthens the union movement at the state legislature and beyond!  Your participation is needed – all affiliated are invited to join the weekly lobbyist meeting to collaborate efforts and plan strategies & tactics. The weekly meeting is every Friday @ 1:00 at IBEW Local 640 ~ 5808 N. 7th Street.  The next meeting will be Friday, May 8, 2009.

The Week Ahead
Once again we are hearing rumors that the budget may pass this week.  At this point what happens is a guessing game.  Last week they canceled the appropriations meeting ½ hour prior to the meeting.

Superior Court Judge Throws State Workers Under the Bus
A Superior Court Judge in Maricopa County this past week rejected a request by state workers to reverse a the massive layoffs in 2009 that were prompted by extreme budget cuts.

The judge argued that the severity of the cuts required agencies to conduct layoffs without going through the proper protocols of a five-day notice. Though the future of the case is now uncertain, representatives of the workers claim that no matter what it has made state agencies think twice about how they handle their employees

Poll Shows Most Arizonans Support Tax Increase
A new Cronkite/Eight poll released this week showed massive support for a temporary sales tax increase to balance the state budget. 60 percent of those surveyed said they would support an increase, versus 35 percent against. Five percent stated they had no opinion.

The poll also showed that Arizonans are deeply opposed to cuts to education and believe it is important to fully fund all-day kindergarten. Hopefully the Republican Leadership will take the hint and start pushing for a sensible budget that people want.  To read more about the poll go to http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/poll/2009/4-28-09.htm

We Do Have Options – They are as Easy as ABC
There is a broad group of community civic leaders to organize the Arizona Budget Coalition and the Arizona AFL-CIO has signed on. The coalition agrees, there are many options available to balance the budget without cuts to jobs, education, health, and human services. These alternatives include budget and revenue options as well as taxes that are fair.  The coalition is urging Governor Brewer and the legislature to balance the budget through a comprehensive approach so that Arizona can save jobs and build its future.  You will receive more information on the coalition shortly.  We must remember that the last budget cuts already went to far and now they are trying to cut an additional 3 billion dollars.  The is a better way to come up with a fair budget. 

The principals that coalition members agree to are: 
1. Transparent budget process
2. Restore massive cuts 
3. Do no further harm
4. Use all available options
5. Keep people working
6. Create a fair tax structure
7. Keep state revenue sharing

For More Information on the Coalition go to  http://www.arizonabudgetcoalition.org/

Hero's and Villains of the Week
Hero of the week is not in the legislature but he is a Hero indeed.  In a letter to Senator Tester, President Shirley wrote, "On behalf of the Navajo Nation, I write to clarify that not all tribes are opposed to passage of the EFCA.  As President of the Navajo Nation, I would like to inform you that the Navajo people, through our tribal council and leadership, not only support the EFCA, but years ago enacted similar legislation for Navajo Nation employees that grants automatic union certification upon proof of majority sign up.  Hopefully, with the passage of this Act, all American workers will be able to enjoy the type of fair and just choice of representation that certain Navajo Nation employees have today.  I sincerely hope that you will not only support the EFCA as written, but will provide the leadership needed in our party by becoming a co-signer.  Thank you President Shirley for consistently standing up for workers and not standing in the way of freedom to join a union. 

Once again Pamela Gorman is our Villain of the week.  In a press release Sen. Gorman stated, "I am outraged at members of the education community for their blatant deception and hypocrisy. They have launched huge attacks against cuts to education to balance the budget, while they hid the fact that they were sitting on hundreds of millions of your taxpayer dollars," declared Sen. Pamela Gorman, R-Anthem.  What she failed to mention is the $330 million is money expected to be in districts' regular "carryforwards" at the beginning of the next fiscal year. There's also $100 million of unspent money provided by the state for repairs and maintenance.  Some of the reserved money may be intended to pay bills early in the next fiscal year. Other money could be reserves set aside for emergencies or bound for debt payments, special utility projects and other allowed purposes.   Senator Gorman really should get her facts straight before getting so outraged is the education community. 

You Won't Believe They Said That
Pamela Gorman.  "We're faced with the reality that government has created a dependent class of people. That growing class has become accustomed to receiving ever increasing amounts of taxpayer dollars, regardless of the taxpayers' ability to pay.  The entitlement class is scared, motivated, and loud.  And, they have a lot of time on their hands while most of us are at work."  And who is this class of people she is referring to with a lot of time on their hands.  Maybe kids who are only in school 4 days out of the week rather than 5?  The unemployed looking for work, as if finding a job is not a full time job?  State workers or teachers who lost their jobs, the list goes on and on. 

To prove to you we are not making this stuff up, read her entire Op-Ed at http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/05/01/gorman_arizona_tax/

Here We Go Again, Budget Released then Pulled
Last Tuesday, House and Senate Republican leaders officially released a "Joint Draft Budget Proposal" that includes an overall reduction in K-12 public education funding of around $1 billion dollars. In addition, the proposal includes tax shifts and a permanent repeal of the $250 million school equalization tax.    

The Republican leadership has excluded the Democrats in the development of the budget proposal and it appears that more and more members of the Republican caucus are distancing themselves from this "cuts only" approach to the budget. In the meantime, Governor Brewer has shown very little leadership on the budget process and only  issuing a 5-point plan that includes an unspecified and temporary $1 billion tax increase to help balance Arizona's $3.4 billion budget deficit.  If Arizona is going to close the budget gap, we are going to need leadership and none seems to be emerging. 

Republican Lawmaker May Be Removed for Violating Clean Elections
Republican State Representative Doug Quelland is finding himself in a lot of hot water this week, as the Clean Elections Commission began looking in to whether or not to remove him from office for violating campaign finance laws. Quelland is accused of paying a consultant 15,000 dollars for campaign related activities.

Quelland claims that he hired the consultant for business related expenses, and that the only campaign activities he participated in were on a purely volunteer basis. Todd Lang, executive Director of the Clean Elections Commission called for immediate action and recommended removing Quelland from office or other sanctions.  The commission expressed their disappointment in all the "lying" that seemed to be going on in the case, and decided to postpone final judgment for a May 16th meeting.

The Republican Budget Proposal "Cheat Sheet" 
The Arizona Senate Democrats have created this helpful glossary so you can see what the Republican budget will really do to working families. Enjoy! (More can be found at AzSenateDemocrats.com

Annualization: Everything we cut in the last budget is going away forever. We have concluded that you did not really need it after all.

Inflator, Education 2 Percent: We are trying to make ourselves look good by giving $8 million to public schools. We hope you will not figure out that according to the law that you voted for, it should really be $110 million.

Lost Federal Funds: We do not even talk about this because we do not want you to know that by cutting state money from programs as we propose, the state also loses federal money. Our current budget will cause the following:
*30% increase in deadbeat parents who don't pay child support.
*8,000 older Arizonans forced out of their homes.
*10,000 fewer homeless shelter beds.
*9,000 abused women and children with no place to go.
*3,000 families unable to pay utility bills.
*Childcare assistance lost for an additional 30,000 families.

Lump Sum: This is where we hide cuts we do not want to tell you about in advance because we do not want to hear you whine about it.

Reduce Childcare Funding: Eliminate childcare assistance for 4,000 children and give up $33 million in federal stimulus money. Children will be left in unsafe situations and parents will lose jobs.

Reduce Children's Support Services: These services are supports for families involved in the CPS system and reunification services for families who have had a child removed from the home. More children will go into foster homes because 10,000 children will lose these in-home services.

Sweeps, University Tuition and Fee: Not only are we raising tuition; we are also sweeping $90 million in existing tuition and fee revenues, so you will have to pay higher fees and more for textbooks, too!

TANF Recipients: Children. Seventy-five percent of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families caseload is children.

TANF Recipients, Drug testing: We want to save money by testing your children for drugs.

Watch State Legislature In Action
Just a reminder, Cox Cable recently began broadcasting AZ CapitolTV from the Arizona Legislature on Channel 123.  This channel is a CSPAN style channel featuring events of the Arizona Legislature and other state programming of interest such as Statehood Day.  Also, the Arizona Legislature now has an online video archive.  View and hear live and archived hearings and meetings using the State of Arizona's live and video archive at http://azleg.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

 

Link to this post online: http://www.azaflcio.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=125857&page=Legislative20Alerts21

Celebrate Obama's First 100 Days with AZDems - Thurs, April 30

Tickets:
$20 - General Admission
$15 - G.I.V.E. Members
$10 - ADC Members

Light Lunch included with Admission

**Space is limited** - Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 29th

Send RSVP's to rsvp@azdem.org

Rep. Kavanagh (R) Prioritizes University Athletes Over Low-income Students

This article was published in the Arizona Guardian and I first read it on Dana Kennedy's Facebook page.  This is a great example of an issues-based sway campaign that we can use in reaching out to disaffected Democrats and moderate Republicans here in Arizona.  It is just too incredible not to share:

Quote from Rep. Kavanagh. ..Arizona Guardian

As it stands, the state pays for its poorest students to attend college for free.
But that could change as state lawmakers consider charging many students, including those on need-based scholarships, a minimum of $1,000 a year.
The proposal is just one of hundreds being secretly considered by legislators as they attempt to shore up a $3 billion budget deficit.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman John Kavanagh [LD8] says lawmakers are looking at the option and that it's expected to save taxpayers as much as $10 million a year.
But the money, he says, isn't the only reason for the change.

"It's the principal of it," he said. "It's unfair. Why should these students get to go to school for free just because their families are poor?"

Kavanagh, who graduated from New York University in 1993, says students should be able to take out loans and pay them back once they graduate.
"Leaving with a four-year degree and with only $4,000 in loans sounds like a pretty good deal to me," Kavanagh said.

Students will appreciate their education more and take a greater sense of pride if they pay for their own degrees, Kavanagh said.

Republican legislators in the House and the Senate are considering the proposal, said Kavanagh, who has been involved in closed-door budget discussions in both chambers.
Instead of writing a bill, Republican leaders could tack the measure directly on to the budget. There are more than 200 various policy changes that could be enacted that way.
The current list of changes is unavailable as lawmakers have refused to make them public. For the past several weeks, GOP legislative leaders have been meeting with other lawmakers in small groups and individually to try to guage support for a GOP budget proposal.
Kavanagh says there's been little resistance among his Republican colleagues at the Capitol when he brings up changing what he describes as "Crow's policy" - a reference to Arizona State University President Michael Crow -- and an ASU practice of providing low-income students who qualify with free tuition.
He also added that the measure should make it into the final version of any budget deal. It's unknown when that deal will be completed.
Rep. David Schapira, who teaches at ASU, says the proposed changes could have negative consequences for poorer students.
"Why can't a person just pay off a $4,000 loan?" Schapira asked Kavanagh in an informal exchange on the House floor after most everyone had left one day last week. "Have you seen the job market?"
He also was worried about breaking a deal with students already attending school. He said it would be unfair to tell them now to "start coughing up some dough."
"If we do this, we'd be reneging on the deal we made with students," Schapira said.
It's unclear if the proposal would affect students already attending school or only incoming students. Kavanagh said lawmakers would not break any deals with curent students.
Right now, students coming from families making less than $40,000 a year are eligible for free tuition, Kavanagh said.
Terri Shafer, an ASU spokeswoman, said university officials would not have any comment on the proposal because they hadn't seen it. She also did not provide details on the number of students who might be affected if the proposal were to become law.
Under the GOP proposal, students with merit-based or athletic scholarships would not be asked to pay a minimum tuition. Veterans also would not be asked to meet a minimum tuition level.
Kavanagh said lawmakers recognize the value of athletics to the universities and their ability to raise money from alumni.

"Do you really want to see the ASU basketball team go to the bottom and lose all that revenue?" Kavanagh said.

Draft State Budget Proposes Huge Cuts in Education

The Arizona Guardian reports that the draft budget released by the AZ Legislature Monday evening, and provides a copy of the draft document here. 

According to the AZ Guardian, the proposed budget would slash nearly $600 Million from K-12 education. 

Forbes has more details here (for free).

Democratic Diva comments on the budget here.

News from the East - Spector a Dem! With Frankon, Dems will have 60 Votes

As a 20-year Pennsylvanian, I'll just say that I'm thrilled to hear that Arlen Spector is switching parties to become a Democrat!!  From the New York Times:

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said on Tuesday he would switch to the Democratic party, presenting Democrats with a possible 60th vote and the power to break Senate filibusters as they try to advance the Obama administration’s new agenda.

In a statement issued about noon as the Capitol was digesting the stunning turn of events, Mr. Specter said he had concluded that his party had moved too far to the right, a fact demonstrated by the migration of 200,000 Pennsylvania Republicans to the Democratic Party.

“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Mr. Specter said, acknowledging that his decision was certain to disappoint colleagues and supporters.

If Al Franken prevails in his ongoing court case in Minnesota and Mr. Specter begins caucusing with Democrats, Democrats would have 60 votes and the ability to deny Republicans the chance to stall legislation. Mr. Specter was one of only three Republicans to support President Obama’s economic recovery legislation.

Action Alert: Join Hands for Public Education, Sunday, April 19

Join Hands for Public Education
Show public education is OUR priority!
Show the commitment of parents around our State for the promise of public education, and support making public education a State priority.
When: Sunday April 19 at 3 p.m.
Please come early so that we can all be in position right on time.
Where: Washington Park
6655 N 23rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
Located two blocks east of I-17 on Glendale Avenue.  Enter and park via 23rd or 21st Avenue or Citrus Avenue on the south end of the park (map).
Who:  Everyone is welcome!!
Bring your little ones, your teenagers, your neighbors and your parents. Come picnic in the park before hand and enjoy the afternoon, or just come to hold hands at 3 pm.
PLEASE CARPOOL IF YOU CAN- think of the neighbors in the area!
The most important thing is for us to have A TON of people turn out this day, and be there to join hands at 3 pm sharp.
Print your own event flyers!
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE-
JOIN HANDS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION!

For more information contact Francesca Thomas, APPLE - Arizona Parents for PubLic Education
casathomas@cox.net or 602-522-0188

Tres de Mayo with Maricopa County Dems on May 3

The Maricopa County Democratic Party is hosting* a "Tres de Mayo" celebration on Sunday, May 3, 2009, from 5:30 to 8:00pm at "Tradiciones," located at 1602 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix 85006. 

The celebration will include a fiesta buffet, music, dancing, and a silent auction.

Cost:  $60 per person.  (Proceeds go to the Maricopa County Democratic Party)

RSVP here, or via email, or via phone: 602-298-0503.

*This event is co-hosted by the Foothill Democrats.

This Saturday: Local "Renew America's Economy" Canvass

April Yax, an LD6 Democrat PC, is hosting a Renew America's Economy Canvass this Saturday.

 

Join her!  Get out there and knock-on-doors and ask our neighbors to take a pledge of support for President Obama's bold approach to renew America’s economy and invest in energy, health care, and education.

 

Details: 

WHEN: 

Saturday, March 21 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

WHERE: 

Deer Valley Park

19602 N. 19th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85027

 

FIND OUT MORE HERE.

Dissent in the Desert

Six Activists, A Mysterious Proposal, And Dem Party Mutiny in AZ

Saturday's Democratic State Committee meeting will be very interesting ...

Update 3/7/2009:  Returning back from the ADP meeting today, with the majority of the State Committee having re-elected Don Bivens as the State Party Chair, I'm happy that I also took the additional time after an exhausting day to drop in on the YDAz new leadership reception afterward.

I had the opportunity to speak with one of the mystery "six" who authored Building A Stronger Arizona Democratic Party -- A New Way Forward (a very committed and savvy Obama compaign activist).  The good news is, the ADP leadership is actively listening and engaging with the writers.  Time will tell if the common sense proposal is truly embraced by a reformed leadership.  I would challenge fellow Democratics and State Committee members to continue to hold our ADP leaders accountable.

Bob Lord Opts Out

Lord indicates he is NOT running for the Arizona Democratic Chair seat (voting to be held by the State Committee this Saturday) despite the movement to draft him.  In the mean time, Don Bivens is actively campaigning for re-election.  He says he "gets" it now ...  What do you think?

Brewer has, ummm, FEW answers ...

Listen to the response given by Gov. Brewer when asked about what small businesses can do to participate in Arizona's economic recovery on NPR in Phoenix, Arizona. Her response left much to be desired. In this video, Arizona residents read her response verbatim and question what she was attempting to say.

Your county tax dollar at work ... defending Andrew Thomas

Yvonne Wingett, Arizona Republic, reports today that we have, so far, paid $340,000 in legal fees defending Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas in an investigation being conducted by the State Bar of Arizona.  The investigation has been going on for over a year now, apparently looking into several different complaints.

Oh, and it doesn't stop there. The Arizona Republic reports that at least 20 employees of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. -- the firm that's received $167,000 in fees (so far) -- donated money to Thomas's relection campaign.

Read the full scoop here.

March4Schools - Biggest AZ education rally ever planned for March 4th

Join thousands of parents, taxpayers, teachers and other educational professionals for the March4Schools.

March 4 4 p.m. Arizona Capitol 1700 West Washington View map

Why? To tell our state legislators how the proposed $1 billion cut to education funding will impact your job, your students, and your community

• Conservative legislative leaders have proposed a risky budget solution which contemplates balancing the state's budget on the backs of Arizona's children.
  
• We know that our current economy is not providing the necessary resources to recover the state's budget deficit,. However, investing in public schools is an investment in the state's future economy. 
  
• Slashing investments in public schools will move Arizona further away from competing in today's - and tomorrow's - global economy.

Watch the AEA's Call to Action to find out more about why it is so important to make your voice heard.  Click here for more details on the march.

AZ Democratic Senators to hold budget hearings at ASU

From the Press Release:

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Legislative Democrats invite members of the public to budget hearings at Arizona State University, in Sierra Vista and at the University of Arizona, the seventh, eighth and ninth in a series of hearings that will be held statewide.

Members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees will be in attendance to hear citizens’ concerns of the deep cuts in the state budget.

Arizona State University Main - Tempe
When: Monday, Feb. 23, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Where: Memorial Union (MU) building, Ventana Room, Second Floor Room 241
Visitor Parking available in Parking Structure 1 ($2/hr) near Apache Boulevard and College Avenue